With the seasons changing, it is now Spring’s chance to make an appearance. Instead of enjoying the warmer weather and extended hours of sunshine, many of us may be suffering from congestion, watery eyes, coughing and sneezing. If you are, then you have what is called Spring allergies and this can be caused by a number of things in the environment.

The number one element that causes Spring allergies is pollen. These are grains that are released by grass, weeds and trees into the air. When we inhale these different pollens, our body mistakenly considers them as “invaders”. For those who are allergic to pollen, their immune system goes into attack mode and they usually start to have runny nose, coughing, itchy eyes and other similar symptoms. Surprisingly, pollen isn’t the only thing that can make this type of seasonal allergy worse. Spicy food and alcohol are known to increase swelling and stuffiness of the nasal passages. Additionally, raw fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, zucchini and cucumber have proteins that are similar to those in pollen an can cause an allergic reaction if it is not cooked properly.

Staying inside with this good weather may not be an option nor a possibility for most you, so what can you do to reduce your allergy attacks?

Check the pollen count before going outside so that you are prepared. There are several apps that you can download that can give you quick information about the pollen count in your area.

Apps to your smart phone:

iPhone users – AllergyAlert byPollen.com & AllergyCast by Zyrtec

Android users - AllergyAlert byPollen.com

Can’t download the app- no problem! Here some websites that give useful tips on how to manage your allergies

For F1 and M1 international students, it is safe to say that the word “SEVIS” is familiar as it appears on your I-20. SEVIS which stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System was created in 2003 by The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This program was formed in order to supervise the status and activities of M or F visa holders and their dependents. It also keeps up to date information about international students while they are in the U.S. Over the years, international students have been contributing to the growing student population within American schools and universities. As of January 2014, there are currently about a million international students getting their education here. Making up around 29 percent (287,260 students) of this million are students from China, closely followed by students from India which is 11 percent (105,426 students). Other countries where students are originally from include Japan (26,302 students), South Korea (91,693 students), Saudi Arabia (65,585 students), Australia and Pacific Islands, South America, Europe and Africa.

Just as how international students are from all over the world, one can be sure to find international students all over the U.S. However, California seems to be the home away from home for most international students. There are about 163,058 international students currently living in California followed by New York with 115,599 students. Texas, Massachusetts, Florida and Philadelphia are also some of the popular states that students call their second home. The high population in these states explains the high number of international students attending the schools there. For example, this year so far the University of Southern California has welcomed 10,487 F1 international students. The other schools in this category include Purdue University (9,673 students), University of Illinois (9,605 students), New York University (9,247 students) and Columbia University in the City of New York (9,201 students).

For schools that allow both F1 and M1 students, Cornell University tops the list with 4,898 students, followed by Santa Monica College with 3,258 students, University of Iowa (3,233 students), Houston Community College System (3,192 students) and Florida Institute of Technology (2,041 students). At the end of college, most international students graduate with either their Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate degrees in business related subjects, engineering, computer and information sciences and liberal arts.

During their time in the U.S., international students contribute significantly to their schools. Whether it is exchanging ideas or bringing a whole new culture on campus, their presence within American schools is always welcomed.

The Affordable Care Act, popularly known as “Obamacare” has been the topic of major debate for university administrators especially when it comes to international students. The theme that separates respective school officials is whether or not international students need ACA based insurance. According to the guidelines for the Affordable Care Act, due to their immigration status, most international students do not need to have a health insurance plan that is ACA compliant. In light of this information, there are a few questions that one has to ask: Why are schools making it mandatory for international students to have ACA complaint insurance plans? What is the reason why health insurance increased for many students in the past year? Prior to and during the Fall 2013 semester, many international students were informed that there will be changes to their health insurance plans for the upcoming semester. One of the major changes was a noticeably increase in the cost of premiums. This was the case at North Dakota State University. According to the school’s very own newspaper The Spectrumbetween October to December 2013, international students were notified that for 2014 their insurance will increase up to $1300. The reason for the increase was that students would receive “dental and eye care, which were not covered in the past.” It is safe to say that for many international students, dental and vision care is not at the top of their list when they are looking for health insurance coverage. They are more focused on affordability combined with above average coverage. Despite the increase in premiums that some schools have put in effect, there are others that have opted not to increase the cost of insurance for the sake of their students. Schools such as Bowie State University informed their students that for the 2013 – 2014 academic year, the school would no longer offer health insurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, there are school systems like the Montana State University System who are exploring other options in order to cushion the cost. According to a November 2013 article by missoulian.com the school system is planning on either assuming the place of their current insurance company and absorb the cost or getting rid of the student health insurance plan all together. As the changes with health insurance continues, international students should take this opportunity to learn more about how the changes affect them and what they can do. International students should have access to affordable yet comprehensive health services just like their American classmates. According to a recent article on fsunews.com, Florida State University student senators are pushing a new bill called Resolution 10. This primarily deals with lowering health insurance premiums for international students attending the university. As John Emanuello, one of the three senators sponsoring the bills, puts it “… access to affordable health care is a basic human right that should be afforded to all, regardless of national origin.”